# Top doctors break protein myths, say 0.8 g/kg daily is baseline need 2026-08-24T03:57:53+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Seven top doctors from hospitals including Narayana, Jaslok, Apollo, and Aster CMI have explained protein requirements for all adults, not just gym-goers. Most healthy adults need 0.8 g of protein per kg of body weight daily, while older adults require 1.0, 1.2 g/kg to prevent sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that increases fall risk and frailty. Resistance trainers should aim for 1.2, 1.6 g/kg. Protein must be paired with exercise for muscle repair, but there is no strict '30-minute anabolic window' for post-workout consumption. Warning signs of deficiency include muscle weakness, poor wound healing, hair loss, and frequent infections. Supplements are unnecessary when diet provides enough protein. The goal is adequate intake, not maximum. ## Indian Opinion Analysis India's protein consumption is among the lowest globally, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently revising its recommended dietary allowance upwards. The condition sarcopenia, now formally recognised with an ICD-10 code, affects an estimated one in five Indians over 60, yet most are unaware of it. The real gap is not just awareness but implementation: affordable protein sources like pulses have become costlier, while the market for supplements, valued at over Rs 25,000 crore, is largely unregulated, with no mandatory third-party testing. Watch for whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) tightens its supplement guidelines in 2025. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Neutral Q&A format with no editorialising, purely explanatory health reporting This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Apollo Hospital, FSSAI, ICMR, Jaslok Hospital, Narayana Hospital Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/top-doctors-break-protein-myths-say-0-8-g-kg-daily-is-baseline-need/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/top-doctors-break-protein-myths-say-0-8-g-kg-daily-is-baseline-need/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/